Today marks yet another day of celebration in the year of the church. September 14th is noted as being Holy Cross Day, which is celebrated in both Eastern and Western Churches around the world. The Church of England marks this festival day with the use of the color Red. Holy Cross Day was introduced into the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1982, yet this festival may be unfamiliar to many Lutherans today. The history of this festival dates back to the time of Constantine and his mother, St. Helena.

For those who may be a little rusty with their history lessons, the stories of each are told in these lovely stained glass window in the St. Helena Cathedral, in Helena, Montana. The top window depicts the conversion of Constantine to Christianity. Constantine sees a vision of a cross in the window that is almost blinding in its brilliance.

St. Helena is pictured in the next stained glass window. History notes that St. Helena located Cross of Christ or relics of the cross of Christ while doing archeological work in Jerusalem.

To honor this special Festival Day of the Holy Cross, Ecclesiastical Sewing is pleased to provide a liturgical embroidery design for use in hand embroidery. The church embroidery design is a variation of the fluer cross. At the center of the cross is the IHC monogram. Rays extend from the central design motif between each cross arm. Although the cross is in the Greek form where all four arms are the same length, the cross could be easily converted to a Latin Cross

This cross could be worked in any number of ways. Simple line stitches would work with white, ivory, or pale blue threads for altar linen embroidery designs. Silk and gold work threads could combine with this church embroidery design for use on pastoral stoles in the smaller design size, or altar frontals, chalice veils, or other church vestments in a larger embroidery design. Please visit Higher Things or Issues, Etc to learn more about Holy Cross Day. Please check with your pastor or priest prior to beginning this or any other church embroidery or church vestment designs to ensure the liturgical embroidery patterns fit within you church’s celebrations.

Soli Deo Gloria

PDF File for: Holy-Cross-Day-Design is available for personal use within an individual’s church, and not intended for resale or commercial use.